Revolving chair base



March 9, 1954 M. FOX 2,671,631

REVOLVING CHAIR BASE Filed April 27, 1950 2 Shee ts-Sheet l FIELI MM71%, W/ PE ZJ March 9, 1954 M. FOX 2,671,631

' REVOLVING CHAIR BASE Filed April 27. 1950 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 1a? 3I J 21 IIIIIIIIIII/IIII JrIl/e 7? for Patented Mar. 9, 1954 REVOLVINGCHAIR EASE Martin Fox, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Selig Company, acorporation of Illinois Application April 2'1, 1950, Serial No. 158,573

(Cl. bi -349) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a chair iron, and more particularly to animproved device for swivelly supporting a chair on a base. v

The primary object of this invention is to provide a chair iron ofeconomical manufacture,

provided with a pair of opposed plates having simple and effectivekeepers for holding the plates together on spaced ball hearings in anannular race, and also provided with a holding device for securing thechair in any position relative to its base.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in

which-- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an upholstered chair,embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the chair of Fig. 1,a partially turned position indicated by broken lines; Fig. 3, a planview of the chair bottom, chair iron and base with the chair removed;Fig. 4, a side elevational view of the assembly of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, afragmentary top plan view of the chair iron; Fig. 6, a sectional viewtaken as indicated at line 6-6 in Fig. Fig. 7, an enlarged fragmentarysectional view taken as indicated at line 1-1 in Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 anenlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken as indicated at line8-8 in Fig. 4.

In the embodiment shown, a conventional base 9 is surmounted by a swivelassembly I!) to which a chair II is attached by its bottom l2 by use ofscrews [3.

The chair iron comprises an upper plate I4 and a coacting similar lowerplate l5. Each of the plates are formed with an annular groove in itsouter portion which forms a ball'race l6 when the plates are assembledin opposed relation. The plates'may be stamped out of sheet metalmaterial and in general comprise an annular ring open in the center.Four keepers I! are formed integral with one of theplates and have afree end portion loosely embracing the marginal edge portion of theother plate. In

this particular embodiment, the keepers are preferably integral with theupper plate, that is, the plate to be attached to the chair bottom It.The keepers are sufiiciently loose to allow the upper plate to revolveon a plurality of ball bearings l8 positioned in the race l8, yet retainthe plates in suillciently" close relationship to prevent loss of theball bearings from the race.

The ball bearings are held in'spaced relationship by four link spacerbars l9, each being a fiat bar having angularly offset portions. Eachlink bar has an end opening and an opening at the angle of each bar forreceiving a ball bearing. The link bars retain the balls apart and arelinked together by overlapping engagement with one ball at the adjoiningends of the bars. Each bar I9 is interchangeable with any of the otherbars l9, and each has a width greater than the ball race so thattheyride on the lower plate I5.

A holding device is provided for securing the chair in any positionrelative to its base as best seen in Figs. 5 and '7. A supporting lug isBil riveted to the upper plate Hi to support the holding member 2!pivotally mounted thereon.

The member 2| has a hand-grip portion 22 and a wedge portion 23 whichmay be moved from the broken line position to the full line positionillustrated in Fig. 5, to swing the wedge portion between the upper andlower plates to restrain them against relative movement. Preferably theholding device is mounted adjacent a keeper ill so that the wedgeportion 23 may spread the plates apart into frictional engagement withthe adjacent keeper ll. As seen in Fig. 2, the device moves with theupper plate, to keep the operating handle at the same position on thechair at all times.

Generally a swivel assembly is put together in the shop beforeinstallation in a chair. To facilitate the insertion of screws H tofasten the upper plate to the chair bottom [2, an opening 24 is providedin the base 9 to register with cut-out portions 25 of the upper plate.Thus, the swivel assembly may be secured to a base 9 and, as illustratedin Fig. 8, the chair may be set upon the base and revolved thereon tobring successive screws I3 into registry with the opening 24 to providefor easy assembly.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, for some modifications will be obvious to those skilled inthe art.

I claim:

1. A chair iron for swivelly supporting a chair on a base, comprising: apair of opposed plates having complementary annular grooves'form-,

ing a ball race; keepers on one plate having a free end portion looselyembracing the'marginal portion of the opposed plate; a plurality of flatlink bars between said plates having overlapping ends in said ball raceprovided with registering apertures; and a ball bearing in each pair ofregistering apertures, said ball bearings serving to link said barstogether with their ends in overlapping relationship.

the other.

provided with an aperture to abale.oompriaing: apairotoppoeedplateehaving complementary annular grooves tonnlooeely embracing the marginalportion of the other plate: and e holding device having a wedge portionadapted to be swung between laidplatee and restrain one from turningwith reepeet to chairiron iorewivellympporting aehair.5.Adeviceaeepeciiledinclaim4,inwhiehgo the keeper: and the holdingdevice are mounted on the same plate; and said holding device is mountedadjacent a keeper for wedging the plates into frictional keeper.

engagement with said the holding device includes a pivotally in memberhaving a hand-grip at one end.

plates upon'eelective movement of said hand- :rinv MARTIN POX.

item-almond!intiseiueottmsmum 15f suns m'nm'rs Toelstede '1"eb. 5, 1951

